West Somerset Railway Walk

(13/02/2011 @ 18:01:00)

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is again organising a Sponsored Walk, this time from Williton to Bishops Lydeard, to raise money for the Heritage Carriages Project "Olympic set” which is a rake of three Great Western Railway coaches that the trust is aiming to restore and plan to be up and running in 2012 around the time that the Olympic Games are being held.

The date is set for Sunday NOVEMBER 27th and once again the plan is to join forces with another charity so that the walk will appeal to a wider group of people.

As you may remember the Trust organised a walk from Williton to Minehead in 2008, which was a great success when over one hundred and twenty walkers took part with over £ 5,000 raised from sponsorship money.

The plan for 2011 is to go in the other direction from Williton to Bishops Lydeard, the ten mile terraine enjoying fine views of the Quantocks and surrounding countryside and being a little more challenging as the ruling gradient along the route to Crowcombe is 1 in 100 ,which when walking is a gentle but noticeable climb.

Organisers Mike Webber and Ian Coleby , both volunteers on the railway say that this is a great time to burn off a few calories before next Christmas as track walking can be challenging and sometimes strenuous in places, but also promises to be a great day out raising money for a worthy cause.

The organisers are looking for at least fifty to sixty walkers to take part and the Diesel Multiple Unit will be there to take Walkers from Minehead or Bishops Lydeard to Williton at the beginning of the day and return them following the walks conclusion.

Entry forms and further details will be released in April and will be £7 per walker taking part to cover organisational costs, a complimentary tea, coffee, or soup and the diesel train taking walkers back to their original station.